What Evin spoke about.

5 May

2025

EN Speech

Protection of the European Union’s financial interests – combating fraud – annual report 2023 (debate)

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Mr President, every misuse of taxpayers' money is essentially theft. Viktor Orbán, the leader of the far right in Europe, is one of the biggest ones. The European Commission is currently withholding … So are the colleagues going to be silent or am I allowed to continue? (The President asked for silence in the room) Every misuse of taxpayers' money is essentially theft. Viktor Orbán, the leader of …

5 May

2025

EN Speech

Order of business

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Madam President, today the far‑right Israeli Government shamelessly approved a plan to unlawfully seize full control over Gaza and escalate its brutal assault on the civilian population. Since 7 October 2023, over 50 000 people have been killed. While the Israeli Government violates international law day after day, the EU keeps staying silent. We are supposed to prevent historical atrocities from …

3 Apr

2025

EN Speech

110th anniversary of the Armenian genocide

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Mr President, one hundred and ten years have passed since one of the darkest chapters in human history – a genocide that killed and deported millions, with people mass murdered and families destroyed. One of those families was my own great‑grandfather's. Many survivors were scattered across the Middle East, Europe and the world, carrying a grief that has pierced through generations. This is not a …

2 Apr

2025

EN Speech

Execution spree in Iran and the confirmation of the death sentences of activists Behrouz Ehsani and Mehdi Hassani (debate)

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Mr President, since the Jin, Jiyan, Azadi, Women, Life, Freedom uprising in 2022, the regime has escalated its repression. Iran now holds the highest per capita executions rate globally. While the Iranian regime aims to install fear through its policies, it has only galvanised the resolve of those advocating for equality and fundamental rights. We have as a responsibility as the EU to support thes…

2 Apr

2025

EN Speech

Recent legislative changes in Hungary and their impact on fundamental rights (debate)

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Madam President, I am an unwavering ally of the LGBTIQ community. LGBTIQ rights are human rights, but what I am not is an ally to those who cling to regressive ideologies, such as Viktor Orbán and his ilk, who embody a medieval mentality that seeks to fight progress. Those of you in here that support him, you should be ashamed. The recent legislation aimed at banning Budapest Pride and all public …

1 Apr

2025

EN Speech

Dramatic situation in Gaza and the need for an immediate return to the full implementation of the ceasefire and hostage release agreement (debate)

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Madam President, a new debate, a new watered-down title. Let's see what Elvis Presley said: 'Truth is like the sun. You can shut it out for a time, but it ain't going away.' Let's talk about the Israeli far-right government: an ICC arrest warrant on Prime Minister Netanyahu; over 50 000 people killed in Gaza in just the last 1.5 years – over 70 % women and children; war crimes committed; crimes ag…

1 Apr

2025

EN Answer

Safeguarding the access to democratic media, such as Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (debate)

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Well, I think most everyday people know that blue is blue, red is red, yellow is yellow, so it should be very, very clear what is misinformation and disinformation. And in the end also this discussion is about Radio Free Europe and the protection of journalism. And journalism is the ground foundation of strong democracies. If we cannot see that, I don't think we can call ourselves democrats.…

1 Apr

2025

EN Speech

Safeguarding the access to democratic media, such as Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (debate)

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Mr President, Trump has made it clear that he doesn't care about free and independent media. I'm not surprised that there are people in here that are making themselves his useful idiots, but I'm ashamed. In an era of disinformation, hybrid warfare and democratic backsliding, the protection of independent media is not just important, it is one of the last lines of defence against authoritarianism. …

1 Apr

2025

EN Speech

Human rights and democracy in the world and the European Union’s policy on the matter – annual report 2024 (debate)

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Madam President, democracy must be defended and developed always, all the time. In the past 25 years, we have witnessed the trend towards autocratisation, to the point where seven out of ten persons globally now live in undemocratic countries. It is a global crisis we are talking about. It often starts with a with hate speech and attack on freedom of speech. We see this trend all across the world,…

31 Mar

2025

EN Speech

Need to ensure democratic pluralism, strengthen integrity, transparency and anti-corruption policies in the EU (debate)

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Madam President, colleagues, I am ashamed of the corruption scandals after corruption scandals. Robust institutions and clear regulations are essential for maintaining strong democracies. At the heart of that is transparency, which ensures credibility and accountability. A troubling example is the President of the Commission's ongoing refusal to disclose her text messages with the CEO of a pharmac…

12 Mar

2025

EN Question

Adoption of the proposal for a Parenthood Regulation (debate)

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I just wanted to ask our colleague a question. First and foremost, we are not talking about surrogacy, because on the issue of surrogacy I can subscribe to that – I also see it as a human trafficking use of women's body. We're not talking about surrogacy. What we're talking about is children who already have two parents and they are of the same sex. This could be in different ways: adoption is one…

12 Mar

2025

EN Speech

Adoption of the proposal for a Parenthood Regulation (debate)

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Madam President, the question of whether we should adopt the parenthood regulation to ensure the families can stay together, no matter where they choose to live in our Union, shouldn't even be up for debate. This should have been approved a long time ago – yesterday, a week ago, a month ago, a year ago, two years ago. Let's clarify this: we have the freedom of movement for goods, services, capital…

11 Mar

2025

EN Speech

Deteriorating situation in Gaza following the non-extension of the ceasefire (debate)

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Madam President, colleagues, I am T-I-R-E-D, tired! Session after session, we are taking note of the horrific situation in Gaza. But my question is when are we going to do something about it? If I feel this tired about words remaining words, imagine how the people of Gaza are feeling right now. Family members murdered, mutilated, traumatised, electricity cut and threats to halt all humanitarian ai…

11 Mar

2025

EN Speech

White paper on the future of European defence (debate)

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Mr President, Commissioner, it is crucial that we cultivate strength. Recent global events, from the aggression of the dictator Putin to Trump's approach in the US, remind us of the urgent need for unity within the EU. It is astonishing to find ourselves discussing the impact of both Putin and a US President in the same breath, but a fact is a fact. For the sake of future generations, we must inve…

13 Feb

2025

EN Speech

Cross-border recognition of civil status documents of same-sex couples and their children within the territory of the EU (debate)

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Madam President, it is absurd that a person or a state can even think the thought that it should deprive children of their fundamental right to their parent. The refusal to fully recognise parenthood across Member States is rooted in homophobia. It is not protecting children; it is actually harming children. The hatred against the LGBTI community doesn't belong in a modern society. Conservatives a…

12 Feb

2025

EN Speech

Recent dismissals and arrests of mayors in Türkiye

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Mr President, democracy is not Erdoğan's strongest suit. When he came to power in 2002, many hoped for positive change in a country that had long struggled with issues of democracy, human rights, the rule of law and equality for all its citizens. Unfortunately, the opposite has occurred. One glaring example is the government's practice of replacing democratically elected mayors with appointed trus…

11 Feb

2025

EN Speech

Wider comprehensive EU-Middle East Strategy (debate)

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Mr President, Commissioner, Minister, what I should have brought with me is a sign that reads 'Missing Person: High Representative Kaja Kallas', as this is the second session we are discussing the Middle East and she has not been a part of the discussions. The Middle East is at a crossroads in many ways: Gaza is at risk of being occupied by a new force, the US under Trump. Yes, you heard me correc…

10 Feb

2025

EN Speech

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights: the need for the European Union to contribute to resolving the humanitarian crisis of persons missing in wars and conflicts (debate)

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Mr President, 'Nunca más', 'never again', became the rallying slogan for justice, truth and accountability in Argentina and across Latin America in the 1980s. The transitional justice movements that followed across the world have proven a fundamental truth: no society can achieve peace without confronting the legacies of political violence and human rights violations. After 54 years of authoritari…

10 Feb

2025

EN Question

Escalation of gang violence in Sweden and strengthening the fight against organised crime (debate)

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Colleagues, let's see if you could do this brain exercise: put migration and migrants aside instead of constantly blaming everything on migration and migrants. Do you think that it is correct that your friends in the Sweden Democrats, for example, do nothing in order to put the money where it should be: in the schools and the preventive works? Do you think that it is OK that your colleagues in the…

10 Feb

2025

EN Speech

Escalation of gang violence in Sweden and strengthening the fight against organised crime (debate)

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Madam President, politics must join forces across party lines to break the cycle of violence. This painful reality is the reason why I decided to engage in politics 25 years ago. Since then, the situation has unfortunately only worsened. More children have become both victims and perpetrators to violence. Last year alone, 44 people lost their lives to shootings, and, alarmingly, the number of chil…

22 Jan

2025

EN Speech

Systematic repression of human rights in Iran, notably the cases of Pakhshan Azizi and Wrisha Moradi, and the taking of EU citizens as hostages

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Madam President, the heinous murder of Jina Amini in 2022 sparked a powerful movement that resonated throughout Iran, throughout Kurdistan, the Middle East and beyond. Since then, courageous voices are chanting: 'Woman, life, freedom!' However, the human rights situation in Iran has worsened dramatically, with over 900 executions in 2024 alone, targeting women, minorities, political dissidents and…

21 Jan

2025

EN Speech

The Hungarian government’s illegal espionage of EU institutions and investigative bodies (debate)

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Mr President, colleagues, the revelation of Hungary's intelligence services spying on EU officials undermines what little trust there is left between the collective EU Member States and the Hungarian regime nowadays. It constitutes yet another direct assault on our common values. This spying, including on OLAF investigators that were probing the misuse of EU funds, reflects a broader pattern in Hu…

21 Jan

2025

EN Speech

Geopolitical and economic implications for the transatlantic relations under the new Trump administration (debate)

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Mr President, a group of powerful men, tech billionaires gathering in the Capitol, taking prime seats behind the President and his family during the inauguration of the 47th president of the USA – no, it's not a scene taken off House of Cards. This is America 2025. Withdrawal from the Paris Climate Accord, implementation of protectionist policies that restricts international trade, disengagement f…

20 Jan

2025

EN Speech

Ceasefire in Gaza - the urgent need to release the hostages, to end the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and to pave the way for a two-state solution (debate)

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Mr President, for 471 days, we have witnessed the aftermath of Hamas's brutal attack on innocent Israelis. And for over 50 years, we have seen the impact of an unlawful Israeli occupation that has taken countless innocent Palestinian lives and erased entire families from existence. The numbers are staggering. Over 46 000 Palestinians and 1 200 Israelis have been murdered since 7 October 2023. Each…

18 Dec

2024

EN Speech

Need to ensure swift action and transparency on corruption allegations in the public sector to protect democratic integrity (debate)

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Mr President, colleagues, Commissioner, every corruption scandal, every stolen euro, every bribery and abuse of power is an insult to our citizens. It betrays their trust and chips away at democracy. Corruption can also, in its worst form, kill. While the EU is making progress at large, we must accelerate the fight against corruption as we, unfortunately, see new scandals in our institutions, and …